Release Detail

April 1, 2003 - New Jersey Voters Support War Almost 3 - 1,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Most Expect Significant U.S. Casualties

New Jersey voters support the U.S. war with Iraq 71 - 25 percent, and approve of the way
President George W. Bush is handling the war 67 - 29 percent, according to a Quinnipiac
University poll released today.

Republicans support the war 87 - 10 percent, as Democrats support it 58 - 38 percent
and independent voters support it 68 - 26 percent.

President Bush's overall approval also is 67 - 29 percent, up from a 54 - 42 percent
approval in a January 29 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

By a 59 - 32 percent margin, New Jersey voters say there will be "a significant
number of U.S. military casualties." And 56 percent expect the war to go on for "months,"
while 14 percent say "weeks" and 13 percent say "about a year."

"New Jersey voters are expressing their strong backing both for the war with Iraq and
the way President Bush is handling it. The strong level of support for the war and the
President in the Garden State is almost identical to support in national polls," said Clay F.
Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"In New Jersey, the war is backed strongly by Republicans and independents and
even a narrow majority of Democrats back the conflict and the way Bush is handling it."

"In fact Democrats, who disapproved 68 - 26 percent of the overall job Bush was
doing in the January 29 survey, are now split 47 - 48 percent," Richards added.

"At least two-thirds or more of voters in every region across the state are behind the
war effort, except in urban Hudson and Essex Counties where support drops to 53 percent
and opposition rises to 40 percent," Richards added.

"Strong support for the war comes despite fears by nearly six in 10 that there will
be a significant number of U.S. military causalities, and concern by half that the war will
last months, not just weeks. While a majority are concerned that in the short term the war
will increase terrorism in the United States, a majority say long term terrorism will be
decreased by going to war with Iraq.

The war with Iraq will increase the short-term risk of terrorism in the U.S., New
Jersey voters say 53 - 35 percent. But the war will decrease terrorism in the long term,
voters say 51 - 41 percent.

A total of 43 percent of New Jersey voters are "very worried" or "somewhat
worried" about a terrorist attack in their community, with the greatest concern in North
Jersey's urban areas and concern falling off in rural areas and at the shore.

The war is going as they expected, 63 percent of New Jersey voters say, and better
than expected, 13 percent say, while 17 percent say worse than expected.

From March 25 - 30, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,059 New Jersey registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and
nationally as a public service and for research.